Stand volume tables: Application to black spruce stands of Lebel-sur-Quévillon

1991 ◽  
Vol 67 (6) ◽  
pp. 712-715 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chhun-Huor Ung ◽  
Denis Ouellet
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Black Spruce ◽  
Form Factors ◽  
Basal Area ◽  
Great Stability ◽  
Stand Volume ◽  
Volume Table ◽  
Dominant Height ◽  
Substantial Error ◽  
Spruce Stands

Within the framework of large-scale forest management, the application of Eichhorn's law, which employs dominant height or mean height exclusively to predict tree volumes per hectare, is certainly rapid, but high accuracy is not guaranteed. Substantial error occurred when this method was used in a study of boreal black spruce stands (Picea mariana (Mill.) B.S.P.). Use of both basal area per hectare and dominant height, however, permitted estimation of total volume per hectare and volume to 9 cm top with only 11 and 12% error, respectively. The form factors for total volume and volume to 9 cm top showed great stability. For this reason, use of the simple conventional formula (V = G.H.F.) to estimate standing volumes is justified. Key words: Stand volume table, Eichhorn's law, stand form factor

The responses of black spruce growth to an increased proportion of aspen in mixed stands

2004 ◽  
Vol 34 (2) ◽  
pp. 405-416 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sonia Légaré ◽  
David Paré ◽  
Yves Bergeron
Keyword(s):  
Populus Tremuloides ◽  
Black Spruce ◽  
Basal Area ◽  
Stand Density ◽  
Mixed Stands ◽  
Stand Volume ◽  
Abiotic Conditions ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Dominant Height ◽  
The Relationship

In the southeastern boreal forest of Canada, the presence of mixed stands of black spruce (Picea mariana (Mill.) BSP) and trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.) growing in similar abiotic conditions offers the opportunity to study the influence of aspen on stand volume and spruce growth. A regression analysis performed on field data from the ministère des Ressources naturelles du Québec showed a significant relationship between the relative basal area of aspen (aspen relative basal area was determined by the ratio of aspen basal area to total basal area of the stand) and the total stand merchantable volume after accounting for stand density. However, the relationship between total black spruce volume and relative basal area of aspen was not significant, implying that the volume gain was, in fact, aspen fibre. The positive effects of aspen on black spruce DBH and height were only present when the proportion of aspen in the stand ranged between 0% and 41% of the total stand basal area. These results suggest that aspen uses a different niche than black spruce. Furthermore, the significant increase in black spruce dominant height along the aspen gradient suggests that aspen enhances soil fertility by its influence on nutrient availability. The management of mixed stands, which make up an important proportion on the landscape, offers an example as to how commercial management of the forest can be in agreement with ecosystem management.

scholarly journals Strip Thinning and Spacing Increases Tree Growth of Young Black Spruce

1996 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 68-72 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joanie Burns ◽  
Klaus J. Puettmann ◽  
Don Perala
Keyword(s):  
Tree Growth ◽  
Growth Response ◽  
Black Spruce ◽  
Economic Feasibility ◽  
Stand Volume ◽  
Spruce Stands ◽  
Growing Conditions ◽  
Increased Growth Response

Abstract Two different thinning methods were applied to three 6- or 7-yr-old black spruce stands in northern Minnesota which were measured after 20 yr. Overall, thinning improved the growing conditions for crop trees. Strip thinning with a 0.6 m leave strip and three widths of cleared strips (1.5 m, 2.1 m, and 2.7 m), and spacing to 1.5 m, 2.1 m, and 2.7 m resulted in reduced numbers of crop trees, but with larger diameters and, in the spacing thinned plots, greater heights. Because of these contradicting trends, stand volume was unaffected by thinning. Crop tree growth was not affected by the width of the cleared strip, but the distances between the leave trees in the square spacing were positively related to the increased growth response after thinning. The study is still too young to evaluate the economic feasibility of both thinning treatments, but shorter rotations or substantially increased volume seem possible by early thinnings of black spruce. North. J. Appl. For. 13(2):68-72.

Base-line selection of black spruce by large-scale aerial photography

1988 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
pp. 380-383
Author(s):  
William H. Parker ◽  
Annette van Niejenhuis ◽  
Laird Van Damme
Keyword(s):  
Aerial Photography ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Black Spruce ◽  
Basal Area ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Base Line ◽  
Horizontal Projection ◽  
Space Efficiency ◽  
Crown Length ◽  
Plus Tree

Following selection of black spruce (Piceamariana (Mill.) B.S.P.) for growing space efficiency using a base line of basal area increment vs. crown length × crown radius, the corresponding crown data were determined by large-scale (1:1250) aerial photography for 174 ground-measured trees to determine whether aerial photography would provide a more accurate and cost-effective alternative for plus-tree selection. Values obtained for ground- and photo-measured tree heights and crown lengths corresponded closely, but values of crown radii measured from the ground by a right-angle prism did not correspond in the same manner to values derived from crown horizontal projection areas on the photos. Nonetheless, the different base lines of basal area increments vs. various ground- and photo-measured crown parameters generally identified the same trees as having the greatest growing space efficiency. The inclusion of crown length together with crown radius did not improve the goodness of fit for regressions of basal area increments vs. crown parameters. Apparently, the two horizontal dimensions are adequate to describe growing space for black spruce, perhaps because its crown form is relatively constant. Our results indicate that large-scale aerial photography is well suited to plus-tree selections of black spruce if ground mesurements are not also required to establish base lines; the extra cost of the photos is offset by the greater speed in measuring tree heights or crown horizontal projection areas. Thus, while the technique is sufficiently accurate, it is not cost effective for establishing growing space efficiency base lines where the basal area increment is determined directly from increment cores.

Predicting basal area increment in a spatially explicit, individual tree model: a test of competition measures with black spruce

2003 ◽  
Vol 33 (3) ◽  
pp. 435-443 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Mailly ◽  
Sylvain Turbis ◽  
David Pothier
Keyword(s):  
Black Spruce ◽  
Basal Area ◽  
Basal Area Increment ◽  
Spatially Explicit ◽  
Competition Index ◽  
Individual Tree ◽  
Spatial Indices ◽  
Crown Shape ◽  
Spruce Stands ◽  
Competition Indices

A current trend in the development of forest stand models is to use spatially explicit, individual-tree information to simulate forest dynamics with increased accuracy. By adding spatial information, such as tree coordinates, crown shape, and size, it is hypothesized that the computation of the model's driving function is improved over traditional competition indices, especially when simulating multistoried stands. In this paper, we want to test whether computationally demanding competition indices outperform traditional indices in predicting mean basal area increment. The study was undertaken in old, uneven-aged black spruce (Picea mariana (Mill.) BSP) stands in northeastern Quebec, Canada. The predictability of individual tree growth rates was related to crown dimensions and other stand and tree variables measured in the field. Data were collected from 90 trees coming from stands of varying site quality (range 9.6–16.5 m height at 50 years, age taken at 1 m) and age (range 66–257 years). Hegyis's distance-dependent competition index was found to be the most strongly correlated competition measure (r = 0.57) with mean basal area growth of the last 20 years. This value, 12% higher than the value obtained from the best distance-independent competition index (r = 0.45), clearly shows that precision gains can be achieved when estimating basal area increment with spatial indices in black spruce stands. Using indices computed from virtual hemispherical images did not prove superior to simpler distance-dependent indices based on their individual correlations with basal area increment. When included in a basal area increment model for the last 20 years of growth, however, the gains in precision were comparable to Hegyi's competition index. This indicates that indices derived from a hemispherical approach have some value in spatially explicit forest simulations models but that further tests using younger stands are needed to confirm this result in black spruce stands.

Algorithmic versions of black spruce stand density management diagrams

1997 ◽  
Vol 73 (2) ◽  
pp. 257-265 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. F. Newton
Keyword(s):  
Black Spruce ◽  
Initial Density ◽  
Basal Area ◽  
Stand Density ◽  
File Transfer ◽  
Quadratic Mean ◽  
Dominant Height ◽  
Yield Production ◽  
Quadratic Mean Diameter ◽  
Stand Density Management

Algorithmic versions of stand density management diagrams (SDMDs) were developed for natural and managed black spruce (Picea mariana (Mill.) B.S.P.) stands. Specifically, the IBM-compatible PC-based algorithms (1) graphically illustrate site-specific size-density trajectories for eight user-specified initial density regimes, (2) given (1), calculate and subsequent tabulate periodic yield estimates (mean dominant height, density, mean volume, total volume, total merchantable volume, quadratic mean diameter, and basal area), and (3) given (2), graphically illustrate empirically-derived yield production curves for total merchantable volume ha−1 and stems m−3 with user-specified operability criteria superimposed. Instructions on acquiring the executable algorithmic versions including the required graphical subroutines via the Internet are described. Currently, the algorithms are restricted in applicability to central insular Newfoundland. Key words: stand density management diagrams, black spruce, algorithms, microcomputer, World-Wide Web (WWW), hypertext browser, file transfer protocol (FTP).

Adjustment of the age–height relationship for uneven-aged black spruce stands

2008 ◽  
Vol 38 (7) ◽  
pp. 2003-2012 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hakim Ouzennou ◽  
David Pothier ◽  
Frédéric Raulier
Keyword(s):  
Black Spruce ◽  
Information Criterion ◽  
Diversity Indices ◽  
Site Index ◽  
Diameter Distribution ◽  
Large Network ◽  
Permanent Sample Plots ◽  
Dominant Height ◽  
Spruce Stands ◽  
Height Model

Site index (SI) is commonly used in natural stands, even when their diameter distribution deviates from that of the monospecific, even-aged, fully stocked stands used to develop basic age–height relationships. Since deviations from basic age–height trajectories can be reflected in deviations of stand diameter distribution from a bell shape, we incorporated different diameter diversity indices into an age–height equation to help improve height predictions and determine which index is best related to stand dominant height. This procedure was performed using black spruce ( Picea mariana (Mill.) BSP) stands from a large network of permanent sample plots established across the province of Quebec, Canada. The age–height model that minimized the Akaike’s information criterion used the Shannon evenness index (ESh) as an equation modifier accounting for the diameter diversity variable. The model showed that for stands established on relatively poor sites (SI = 9), no substantial differences in dominant height were found between two contrasting ESh values. For SI = 15, however, the larger ESh value increased the dominant height by as much as 1 m at 80 years. These results suggest that introduction of ESh into an age–height model can improve calculation of site index, particularly in regions characterized by the presence of numerous uneven-aged stands.

scholarly journals Response of Black Spruce to Thinning and Fertilization in a Drained Swamp

1998 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 98-105 ◽  
Author(s):  
Graham R. Hillman ◽  
Sam K. Takyi
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Black Spruce ◽  
Volume Growth ◽  
Basal Area ◽  
Design Experiment ◽  
Growing Seasons ◽  
Experimental Project ◽  
Four Blocks ◽  
Plot Design ◽  
Area And Volume

Abstract A split-plot design experiment replicated in four blocks was established to determine the effects of thinning (main plots) and fertilization (subplots) on growth of a 50- to 60-yr-old stagnant stand of black spruce on a shallow peatland (swamp) in Alberta drained in the previous year in a large-scale experimental project to convert it to a future merchantable stand. The thinning treatments were selective hand-spacing to 1600 trees ha-1 and no thinning. The hand-broadcast fertilizer treatments were: no fertilizer, nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), NP, PK, NK, and NPK. Nitrogen as NH4NO3 was applied at 200 kg ha-1, P as triplesuperphosphate at 100 kg ha-1, and K as potassium chloride at 100 kg ha-1. After six growing seasons, diameter at breast height, basal area, and volume growth were significantly greater in the thinned treatment than for the same number of large (dominant and codominant) trees in the unthinned treatment. Thinning had no significant effect on height growth. Nitrogen significantly increased dbh, height, basal area, and volume growth, and NP increased the basal area and volume growth. P, K, and PK treatments showed little effects on growth, and P applied alone tended to reduce growth. The results indicated it will be beneficial to supplement drainage with thinning or fertilization with N and N-containing fertilizers or with both shortly after drainage, particularly when other researchers have indicated black spruce may take several years to respond to drainage. North. J. Appl. For. 15(2):98-105.

scholarly journals Response of advance regeneration to intensity of harvest and fertilization on boreal wetlands

2003 ◽  
Vol 79 (1) ◽  
pp. 119-126 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y. Teng ◽  
S E Bailey ◽  
N W Foster ◽  
P W Hazlettr
Keyword(s):  
Black Spruce ◽  
Basal Area ◽  
Nutrient Status ◽  
Height Increment ◽  
Boreal Peatlands ◽  
Advance Regeneration ◽  
Limiting Nutrients ◽  
Spruce Stands ◽  
K Fertilization ◽  
Light Medium

Post-harvest nutrient status and growth of understory black spruce (Picea mariana [Mill.] B.S.P.) advance regeneration during the first seven years after harvest with advance regeneration protection (HARP) was evaluated on two boreal wetlands in northeastern Ontario. Three intensities of HARP were investigated: light, medium and heavy, corresponding to 35, 50, 100% basal area removal of merchantable trees. Limiting nutrients were diagnosed with a nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) potassium (K) fertilization trial. Release by HARP significantly improved foliar N by 43–214%,and P by 40–317%, stimulated needle mass by 13–114% and annual height increment of spruce by 6–50% on all three HARP treatments. Growth of spruce was statistically greater after heavy release than the other two HARP treatments by the sixth year. Fertilization with a combination of N and P further increased needle biomass and height increment by 23–46% and 16–26%, respectively. Nitrogen and, secondly, P were limiting for rapid natural reestablishment of black spruce stands on boreal peatlands. Key words: black spruce, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, clearcut

Évolution de la structure diamétrale et production ligneuse des pessières noires issues de coupe et de feu

2002 ◽  
Vol 32 (3) ◽  
pp. 526-538 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jean-Martin Lussier ◽  
Hubert Morin ◽  
Réjean Gagnon
Keyword(s):  
20Th Century ◽  
Black Spruce ◽  
Basal Area ◽  
Initial Structure ◽  
Evolution Pattern ◽  
Second Growth ◽  
Spruce Stands ◽  
Diameter Structure ◽  
Recruitment Period ◽  
Fire Origin

The widespread use of careful logging in the province of Quebec raises many questions about the effects of this practice on the structure and productivity of boreal black spruce (Picea mariana (Mill.) BSP) stands compared with fire-origin stands that are currently being harvested. The objective of this study is to describe and compare the evolution pattern of the diameter structure of stands originating from fire or logging dating back to the first half of the 20th century. The dendrochronological approach allowed the reconstitution of the dynamics of 40- to 96-year-old stands. Second-growth stands differ from fire-origin stands by their highly hierarchized initial structure. After the recruitment period, the degree of hierarchy of the structure of second-growth and fire-origin stands is comparable. After logging, the diameter structure of black spruce stands keeps a higher skewness index than that of stands originating from fire. For both stand types the skewness decreases or remains constant with time, which invalidates the model proposed by Mohler et al. (C.L. Mohler, P.L. Marks, and D.G. Sprugel. 1978. J. Ecol. 66: 599–614). This observation questions the existence of a strong asymmetric competition among trees in black spruce stands. Results indicate that the yield of black spruce stands originating from clearcuts from the early 20th century is higher than or equal to fire-origin stands mainly because (i) basal area was maintained to levels higher than or equal to fire-origin stands and (ii) most advanced growth was taller that 1 m at the time of logging.

Growth Response of Black Spruce in Newfoundland to N, P and K Fertilization

1979 ◽  
Vol 55 (5) ◽  
pp. 189-193 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. S. van Nostrand
Keyword(s):  
Initial Treatment ◽  
Growth Response ◽  
Black Spruce ◽  
Volume Growth ◽  
Basal Area ◽  
Radial Increment ◽  
Spruce Stands ◽  
Npk Fertilizer ◽  
K Fertilization ◽  
Area And Volume

Results are given for two NPK fertilizer trials established in 1967 and 1968 in 60-year-old black spruce stands in central Newfoundland. After nine years, replicated Trial 1 showed significant basal area and volume growth response over control for N, NP, NK and NPK treatments. N and NPK produced the greatest response where gains of 20 m3/ha and 23 m3/ha respectively were achieved after nine years. Similar results were obtained from non-replicated Trial 2 after eight years, where all treatments containing N produced approximately equal response. Maximum response in radial increment, measured from increment cores of sample trees, occurred four to six years after initial treatment. Generally, response was greater for dominant and co-dominant trees than for trees in the intermediate crown class.

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